Pumpkin carving, burlesque shows and community meetings: this week has it all for residents in Long Beach and Signal Hill. The chilly weather of the past week makes it tempting to stay inside all weekend watching scary movies, but we implore our readers to get out into their community and participate in any one of the many free events our town has to offer.
Families can flock to their local library for workshops, reading practice or the first-ever Liwanag Lit Fest on Saturday at the Michelle Obama Neighborhood Library, which will celebrate the city’s Filipino presence through martial arts and music performances, book readings and more. The Los Altos Neighborhood Library is in full swing with the season, hosting a pumpkin carving workshop on Tuesday and a fall tote decorating workshop on Wednesday—both for free!
Those looking to celebrate the season in a more adventurous way can explore a witchy tea party at the Dream Come True Tea & Party Room on Saturday night. Residents can enjoy burlesque dancing, fire spinning, contortionists, costume contests and more surprises while benefiting a Long Beach nonprofit at the second annual Elated! Halloween bash, also Saturday night.
For the people determined to remain indoors, whether due to cold weather, sicknesses floating around or movie and TV show marathons waiting to be watched, spend a few minutes learning your voter registration status, looking over candidates and propositions and finding your nearest ballot drop-off or voting poll location. Elections are 17 days away!
Friday, Oct. 21
Preschool Storytime: 11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Parents and caregivers are invited to bring preschoolers to enjoy songs, stories and crafts at the Michelle Obama Neighborhood Library (5870 Atlantic Ave.). Free.
Rent: 8 p.m. The opening night of “Rent” performed by the Long Beach Landmark Theatre Company (241 Cedar Ave.). Tickets range from $15 to $50. To buy tickets, visit https://lblandmark.org/rent/.
Cosmic Karnevil: 3:30 p.m. Our Generation Cares and Coco Beach are hosting a carnival to support mental health at 2300 E. Pacific Coast Highway. The event will feature live music from Xtine & the Reckless Hearts, Wryly, Cosmic Kitten and more as well as a costume contest, food and wares being sold from vendors and drinks for those 21 years and older. Entry is $15 at the door or $5 with a pumpkin.
Saturday, Oct. 22
Storytelling, Sisterhood & Suman: 9 a.m. to noon. Filipinas in Long Beach are invited to gather and make suman together at Island Pacific Supermarket (3300 Atlantic Ave.). Participants will be able to take some home with them. To register for the event, visit https://linktr.ee/PINAYSPHERE. Free.
Household Hazardous Waste and E-waste Disposal: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The public is invited to dispose of their electronic waste and household hazardous waste materials at the EDCO Recycling Center (2755 California Ave.) Those dropping off waste should place the items in an unlocked car and keep their windows up for socially distanced disposal. For a full list of items that are being accepted go to longbeach.gov/lbrecycles. Free.
Liwanag Lit Fest: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Filipina-owned bookstore Bel Canto Books and the Long Beach Public Library invite the public to an event recognizing Filipino authors at the Michelle Obama Neighborhood Library (5870 Atlantic Ave.). The first-ever Liwanag Lit Fest will feature 11 adult and young adult authors as well as seven children’s authors, all of Filipino descent. The festival will begin with a demonstration of Indigenous Filipino martial arts by the Torrance-based school Pamana Kali, and end with a musical performance by Filipino band Rocksteady Rondalla. Book lovers will also be able to shop from a variety of Filipino-owned small businesses in between meeting authors and flipping through books. Free to attend.
Creative Communal Artisan Market: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Various local vendors will be selling their handmade wares at the 2nd & PCH shopping center (6400 Pacific Coast Highway). This family and pet-friendly event will include live music, food and more. Free to attend.
My Hood My City: 4:30 p.m. The public is invited to the Harte Neighborhood Library (1595 W Willow St.) to view the photography projects of youth from the West side of Long Beach and participate in tours of the local community. Free.
Witches Tea Party: 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. This event at Dream Come True Tea & Party Room will include a costume contest, a spooky-themed tea menu, snacks, crafts, games and bottomless witches brew champagne. Tickets cost $65 for adults and $45 for children, and can be purchased at purplepass.com/witchestea.
Elated!: 5 p.m. The second annual Elated! Halloween bash will include burlesque dancing, live music and art, vendors, a contortionist, fire spinning and a costume contest. The event will be at 2300 E. Pacific Coast Highway and will cost $20 to enter. Half of the proceeds will go to Our Generation Cares, a Long Beach-based nonprofit.
Sunday, Oct. 23
Harvest Fest: 10:30 a.m. The Greater Long Beach Church invites the public to McBride Highschool (7025 Parkcrest St.) for this seasonal event featuring cupcake contests, a chili cook-off, game booths, bounce houses and more. Free.
Long Beach Beer Lab Anniversary: Noon to 7 p.m. The Long Beach Beer Lab (518 W Willow St.) will be celebrating both its 5 year anniversary and Oktoberfest. This event will feature beer, sourdough pretzels, live music, wiener dog races and more. Free.
Monday, Oct. 24
HIV Testing: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. HIV testing will be provided at Bixby Park (130 Cherry Ave.) Free.
Research for Starting, Managing, and Growing Your Business: 11 a.m. to noon. Entrepreneurs and business owners are invited to learn how to use Reference Solutions, a free program available at the library, to help them start, manage and grow a business. Registration is required for this event. Email lbpl_comments@lbpl.org to register or for more information. Free.
Tuesday, Oct. 25
Reading Buddies: 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Parents and caregivers can bring children to the Michelle Obama Neighborhood Library (5870 Atlantic Ave.) where a teen volunteer will give them up to 30 minutes of one-on-one reading practice. Free.
Pumpkin Carving: 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Participants in this workshop will carve pumpkins together at Los Altos Neighborhood Library (5614 Britton Dr.). Call (562) 570-1045 to register, as supplies are limited. Free.
Wednesday, Oct. 26
Fall Tote Decorating: 4 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. Participants in this workshop will decorate Fall-themed reusable tote bags at Los Altos Neighborhood Library (5614 Britton Dr.) Free.
Local History Lecture Series: 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Local historian Claudine Burnett will be giving a virtual talk on her book “Haunted Long Beach 2: The Odd and Unusual Around Long Beach, California,” where participants will learn about supernatural encounters reported in the area. To register, visit longbeach.gov/library/events/. Free.
5 Year Business Anniversary: 6 p.m. Algalita and Bring Your Own Long Beach (140 N Marina Dr.) invites the public to celebrate the fifth anniversary of their business. The celebration will include free food, drinks, giveaways and more. To register for the event, visit Eventbrite. Free to attend.
Thursday, Oct. 27
Flu Vaccine Clinic: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services will be offering free flu vaccines at Houghton Park (6301 Myrtle Ave.) for people without health insurance or whose health insurance doesn’t cover flu vaccines. Free.
Toddler Storytime: 11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Caregivers and parents are invited to bring toddlers ages 1 to 3 to enjoy story time, songs, bubbles and more at Michelle Obama Neighborhood Library (5870 Atlantic Ave)
Teen Movie Matinee: 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Teens are invited to a screening of the film “Beetlejuice” at Harte Neighborhood Library (1595 W Willow St.). Popcorn will be provided. Free.
ArtLAB: 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. An art exploration program for children ages 7 to 12 at the Michelle Obama Neighborhood Library (5870 Atlantic Ave.). Free.
LGBTQ+ Cultural District Community Visioning Event: 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Residents are invited to the first public visioning event for the proposed LGBTQ+ cultural district at the Bixby Park Community Center (2300 E Ocean Blvd.). Residents will have the opportunity to voice their views on what will become a cultural district for the LGBTQ+ community in Long Beach. The proposed district will be along the Broadway Corridor between Junipero and Alamitos Avenues.
